Broomhead Reservoir

The water sits dark and still between moorland hills, ringed by conifer plantations that give the whole place a rather austere character. Broomhead Reservoir, about fifteen miles northwest of Sheffield, isn't one of those postcard-pretty lakes - it's more honest than that. You get moorland walking here, proper Peak District edges, and the kind of quiet that actually means something when you're from the city.

It's a walker's spot primarily. The water itself is functional - a Victorian dam holding back supply for Sheffield - but the surrounding terrain is the real draw. The reservoir loops are straightforward enough, taking between an hour and ninety minutes depending on your pace and where you fancy detouring into the hills. The paths stay firm underfoot most seasons, though it gets boggy after heavy rain.

Families with older kids will find it rewarding; younger ones might find it a bit bleak. History enthusiasts get a kick from the industrial engineering side of it. Birdwatchers come for overwintering wildfowl. On a grey day it's atmospheric rather than cheerful, but that's rather the point.

You'll find it unmanned and free to access. There's parking at the dam itself, though it fills at weekends. Boots and Bubbles luxury glamping sits just 3.6 miles off if you're basing yourself out here - a decent stopover for combining this with longer walks into the wider moorlands. Winter's actually the better season; summer brings midges.